Friday, December 18, 2015

Simple and Sinister...

Happened to pull out my copy of simple and sinister by Pavel yesterday and was reminded of how much gold is in that book....
http://www.strongfirst.com/booksanddvd/kettlebell-simple-sinister-kindle/

So today:
Prep - foam roller and brief GFM
24 kg Goblet squat x 5, Hip Bridge x 5, 24 kg tall kneeling Halo x 5 X 3 sets
24 kg 1 arm swings x 10 x 10 sets (alternating arms each set) in 6 minutes
24 kg Get-up x 1+1 x 5 sets in 5 min 30 sec.

Swings equaled out to 20 sec. work 10 sec. rest
took a one minute break after 3 minutes (6 sets) and then finished the last 2 min (4 sets)

Thursday, December 17, 2015

Mix it up 

For some reason the end of the year this year is very busy - multiple projects due at the same time and the Holiday to get ready for....  training time has been short to non-existent.

Today
Prep - foam roller, GFM
24 kg Get-up + x 1+1

36 kg x 21 minutes
alternating sets of:
36 kg Swing x 5+5
And
36 kg Clean+ Press+Squat x right and left
10 sets of each total

36 kg felt good but my consistency has to pick up for my conditioning
But it was 100 swings total and 10 of each of the other lift x each hand - not bad.

Wednesday, December 02, 2015

Couple of training days...

Nov. 30 
Prep - Foam roller, GFM
24 kg Get-up + x 1+1
24 kg Snatch Breathing ladder 1+1 > 10+10> 5+5
2:1 snatch to breath ratio
(1+1 snatch = 1 recovery breath)

Today
Prep - Foam Roller, GFM
24 kg Get-up + x 1+1
32kg Get-up x 1+1

32 kg Strength Aerobics x 21 minutes
(20 sets of clean+press+sq+snatch Right and Left total)

Sunday, November 29, 2015

So it's been awhile....

Training has been good overall with a bit of pause for a couple of weeks.
Been very busy with travel etc... so not posting.

Training today:

Prep - foam roller, GFM

24 kg - Get-up x 1+1, 1 arm swing x 10+10, 1 arm push-up x 1+1, Pistol (20kg) x 1+1
32 kg - same
36 kg - same
40 kg - same
44 kg - same
36 kg - same

Total of 6 get-ups each arm, 120 swings, 6 one arm push-ups each arm, and 6 pistols each leg

One arm push-ups were surprisingly strong since I haven't trained them is a LONG time.
Pistols were pretty good - left not as strong as right but OK.
Swings - 44 kg and 40 kg were 5+5, 5+5 - all felt good
Get-ups felt strong.

Monday, October 12, 2015

Something different...

Prep - foam roller, GFM
24 kg Get-up + x 1+1

44 kg 2 arm swings x 30 seconds on - 2:30 rest x 10 sets

I have been doing a lot of 3-5 reps at the top of the minute (10 or so seconds of work) and the 30 seconds on (18 or so reps) was quite different.

Saturday, October 10, 2015

Double work

Prep - foam roller, GFM
Get-up
24 kg + x 1+1
32 kg x 1+1
40 kg x 1+1
44 kg x 1+1

Double KB "Strength aerobics" x 30 minutes
Alternating sets of:
double 24 kg (clean+mp+fs+snatch)
double 32 kg (clean+mp+fs+snatch)

totaled 30 sets - 15 of each

Thursday, October 08, 2015

Training...

Today - 10/8/2015

prep - Foam roller and GFM

24 kg Get-up + x 1+1
32 kg Get-up x 1+1
40 kg Get-up x 1+1
44 kg Get-up x 1+1

44 kg One arm swings x 5 x 20 minutes
reps at top of minute
switch hands each minute
32 kg Strength Aerobics x 20 minutes
(clean+mp+fs+snatch)
40 minutes total
150 average heart rate
167 max
629 calories burned (whatever)

I hadn't worn my Wahoo heart rate monitor in quite a while but the weights I was using today are quite a bit heavier than I was using previously - progress.

Tuesday, October 06, 2015

Monday Oct. 5

prep - foam roller, GFM

20 kg Get-up + x 1+1
20 kg Goblet squat x 5
20 kg 1/2 kneeling halo x 3 each direction each knee

20 kg "snatch test" x 4:25 seconds
15+15, 15+15, 15+15, 5+5 continuous

40 kg one arm swings x 5 x 20 minutes
reps at top of minute
switch hands each minute

Friday, October 02, 2015

Couple days of training...

Monday Sept. 28
Prep - foam roller and GFM
24 kg Get-up + x 1+1

Double 32 kg Strength Aerobics x 30 minutes
Clean+MP+FS


yesterday Oct.1

Prep - foam roller, GFM
24 kg Get-up + x 1+1
32 kg Get-up x 1+1
44 kg Get-up x 1+1

44 kg one arm swing x 3 + 1 snatch x 30 minutes
reps at top of minute
switch hands each minute

Snatches with the 44 kg felt better than last time

Thursday, September 24, 2015

Training catch up...

I hit the driving range on Saturday and Monday and had a golf lesson on Wednesday.
Really like my golf pro - he does a great job and he uses similar cues and coaching to what I use in teaching FMS and StrongFirst.

Tuesday I did a little bit of Deadlift and Pull-ups since I was nominated for SFB and SFL challenges.
I gave myself a fail on the SFB challenge - 3 L-sit pull-ups.
Just couldn't keep my legs high enough in the L-sit position.
Something to work on.
Deadlift - the challenge was 1.75 x BW
I went with 405 which is just over 2 x BW.
so - 135 x 3, 225 x 3, 315 x 3 and 405 x 3

Today -
Prep - Foam Roller and GFM
24 kg Get-up + x 1+1
arm bar + crooked arm bar + 3 1/2 kneeling Bent Presses
24 kg Goblet squat x 5

44 kg one arm swing x 5 reps at the top of each minute x 30 min
switching hands each set

Stretch

a bit of a PR on the 44 kg volume

Friday, September 18, 2015

Strength Aerobics continues to deliver...

Prep - Mow yard ;-)
32 kg Windmill x 5+5

32 kg Strength aerobics x 25 min.
around 25 sets each hand of Clean+MP+FS
32 kg 10 alternating swings to finish

1/2 kneeling windmill stretches


Hit the driving range yesterday - I was bit tight from the heavy session on Wednesday but still hit pretty well.

Wednesday, September 16, 2015

Training...

Sept. 14
Prep - foam roller, GFM
24 kg Windmill x 5+5
24 kg Goblet sq x 5

Double 24 kg Strength Aerobics variation
X 35 minutes
Groups of 5
C+MP+FS+SN
Cx3+MP+FS+SN
C+MPx3+FS+SN
C+MP+FSx3+SN
C+MP+FS+SNx3
completed 6 groups and finished with 4 or so sets of singles of each


Sept. 15 
Golf

Sept. 16
prep - Foam roller, GFM
24 kg Get-up x 1+1
24 kg Goblet Squat x 3
44 kg Get-up x 1+1
44 kg Goblet Squat x 3

44kg One arm swing +Snatch x 30 minutes
top of each minute one arm swing x 2 + 1 Snatch
alternate hand each set


Monday, September 14, 2015

Catching up...

Monday Sept. 7 
8+ mile hike
Turned out to be a challenging hike and a great time!

Tuesday Sept. 8 
Off

Wednesday Sept. 9
My birthday
Birthday workout:
Prep
44 kg Windmill x 4+4
44 kg Goblet squat x 4
44kg one arm swings x 4 at the top of each minute x 44 minutes
switch hand each set
22 sets each hand
176 reps total

Thursday Sept. 10
Off

Friday Sept. 11
Never Forget!
Driving range to hit some golf balls

Saturday Sept. 12
Golf outing - great time!

I love to golf  but I'm not sure my left hip loves to golf but the better I get at improving my hands in the swing the less stress I take so I think it will work out.

Sunday, September 06, 2015

A few snatches...

Prep - Foam Roller, GFM
32 kg Get-up + x 1+1
32 kg Goblet Squat x 5
32 kg Snatches x 30 min
4 reps each minute for the first 10 min
5 reps each minute for the next 10 min
6 reps each minute for the next 10 min
alternating hands each set
150 total snatches

Friday, September 04, 2015

Couple of days of training...

Sept. 2
Prep - foam roller and GFM
24 kg Windmill x 5 right + 3 goblet squat + 5 windmill Left + 3 goblet squat

44 kg one arm swing x 3 at the top of each minute x 30 minutes
alternating hands each set - 90 total - 45 each hand


Sept. 3 - OFF

Sept. 4
Prep - foam roller, GFM
24 kg Get-up + x 1+1
24 kg Strength Aerobics x 25 min
Clean+MP+FS+Snatch rep pyramid
(all sets right + left)
pyramid up from 1 rep to 5 reps of everything
pyramid down from 5 reps to 1 rep of everything
one addition set of 1 of everything

This turns into quite a few reps since there are 4 exercises in each complex
good amount of work

Tuesday, September 01, 2015

Quick training today:

Prep - foam roller and GFM
20 kg Get-up+ x 1+1
20 kg Snatch Breathing Ladder
(2:1 ratio) from 1+1 up to 10+10 + a final set of 5+5

Pleasantly sore from the heavy day yesterday so a nice light snatch day was perfect

Monday, August 31, 2015

Holy Mackerel - it cannot have been that long since a blog...

but I guess it has been.

It's been a busy summer here with workshops and family etc...
Indian Club workshop, SFG leadership meeting, 11 days in Budapest, family vacation and more.

But training has been happening.
I was on one of Pavel's experimental protocols for about 3 weeks before a Thai massage tweaked my back and since I had four days of teaching ahead of me I decided to stop the protocol and reboot it later.  My back did great for the 4 days of teaching and reminds me of just how effective our techniques are!

Past few days of training - some sessions were not recorded because I just grabbed a KB and went outside.  (Have to do that while I can since summer does not last here in the Burgh)

8-18
Prep
24 kg Get-up + x 1+1
Double 24 kg Strength Aerobics (c+mp+fs+sn) x 30 min
last 5 minutes 24 kg alternating swing x 10 at the top of the minute

8-22
basically the same as 8-18

8-24
Prep
24 kg Get-up + x 1+1
32 kg Get-up x 1+1
40 kg Get-up x 1+1

Strength Aerobics x 30 min
Double 32 kg (c+mp+fs)
alternated with sets of:
40 kg (right and left) of Clean+MP+FS+ 5 swings

8-28
prep -
24 kg Windmill x 3 right + 3 Goblet squats - repeat on Left with goblet squats x 2 sets

44 kg One arm swings x 4 at the top of the minute x 30 sets/minutes
alternating hands each set

8-31
Prep - foam roller and GFM
24 kg Get-up+ x 1+1
32 kg Get-up x 1+1
40 kg Get-up x 1+1

Strength aerobics x 31 minutes
alternating sets of:
Double 32 kg - C+MP+FS
40 kg one arm swing x 5 (left and then next set right)
for the last 6 minutes it was just the double 32 kg work

Totaled - 16 sets of the 40 kg swings and 15 sets of the double 32 kg work
laddered up the MP reps during 8 of the sets of double 32 kg work
(1>5 and then 1>3 then finished with singles)
Basically turned into reps at the top of the minute with a double up in the last minute to get my 15 sets.

Thursday, July 09, 2015

Training before Indian clubs...

7-9-2015

Prep - GFM
24 kg Get-up Plus x 1+1
(arm bar+crooked arm bar+bridge at elbow and hand)
24 kg 1/2 kneeling Bent Press x 5+5

Reps On The Minute x 20
of
Double 32 kg Jerks x 4 x 10 minutes
32 kg One Arm Swing x 5+5 x 10 minutes

Indian club work


Tuesday, July 07, 2015

Recent training...

7-4-2015
Prep - GFM
24 kg Get-up plus x 1+1
32 kg Get-up x 1+1 x 5
different style GU each rep - regular, Press at each step, Bridge at elbow and hand, windmill and bent press
32 kg One arm swing x 6+6 x 10 sets
reps at top of minute
complete in 9:21

7-6-2015
Prep - GFM
30 min. Strength Aerobics - 24 kg
Alternate Snatch x 12

Strength aerobics included a lot of different work: split snatch, bent press, get-up, windmill, swing etc...

7-7-2015
Prep - GFM
24 kg Get-up plus x 1+1
24 kg Half Kneeling Bent press x 5+5

Alternating sets of:
Double 24 kg Jerks x 6
32 kg Snatch x 5+5
x 20 sets total (10 of each)

Max HR - 168
Avg. HR - 141


Friday, June 26, 2015

More pressing...

Prep - large bucket of Golf balls at the range (did a little stretch prep before I left)
once back home
24 kg Get-up + x 1+1  (includes- arm bar, crooked armbar, bridge at elbow and hand)

32 kg Press Ladders
2+2 > 2+2 > 3+3 x 5 ladders

between ladders
Double 32 kg Front Squat x 3
Double 32 kg Renegade Row x 6 alternating

rest 3 min

32 kg One Arm swing x 6+6 on the minute x 5 min.

Recovery - 30+ beat drop in 2 min

Average HR during press ladders - 145
Average HR during swings - 151
Max HR 166

Love golf!!

Tuesday, June 23, 2015

Strength work

Prep - foam roller,  GFM, experimental

24 kg Get-up + x 1+1

32 kg MP laddders
1+1 > 2+2 > 3+3 x 5 ladders

in between ladders
Double 32 kg Front squat x 3
Double 32 kg Renegade Row x 6 altenating

time 25 min
Average HR - 137

rest x 2 min
HR - 126

32 kg One arm swing x 10+10 x 5 sets
8 minutes
Average HR - 152
Max HR - 166

overall average HR for 39 minutes - 141

Saturday, June 20, 2015

Quick double KB work

Prep - Foam roller, GFM
24 kg Get-up x 1+1  (including arm bar, crooked arm bar, bridge at elbow and hand)
32 kg Get-up x 1+1

Alternating sets of:
Double 24 kg Clean + MP + FS + SN + 3 swings
Double 32 kg Clean + MP + FS + SN + 3 swings
X 10 sets
(5 of each)
14:20
Continued with:
24 kg Clean + 5 MP + FS + SN + 3 swings x Right and Left
32 kg Clean + MP + 5 FS + SN + 3 swings x Right and Left
19:20
2 min recovery

Peak HR 170
Avg. 143

Double 32 snatches were fun...

Thursday, June 18, 2015

Simple is as simple does...

on the 6-16 I rode my stationary bike for 35 min hitting a heart rate between 140-150 for most of the ride. 
Took Yesterday off.

Today:
Prep - foam roller, GFM, experimental
24 kg Get-up 1+1
this get-up included - arm bar, crooked arm bar, and bridges at both the elbow and hand

Double 24 kg Strength Aerobics x 20 min
Clean + MP + FS + Snatch and during the last 3 minutes I added a set of 5 swings to end of each set
max HR - 165
Avg. HR - 144
kept the recovery to 10 beat drops or less between sets

The strength aerobics protocol is an example of a single "workout" that can have nearly endless variation.  Simple is....


Monday, June 15, 2015

Back to back training...

Prep - foam roller, GFM, experimental stuff

32kg Get-up x 1+1 x 2

Alternating sets of:
Double 24 kg LCC&J x 6
32 kg Alternating swing x 10
X 20 sets
(10 of each)
Rest between sets was determined by a 20 beat drop in HR
First 10 sets took 14:10
avg. HR around 145 (for some reason my HR monitor didn't record an average
about a 2 min break
Second 10 sets took 14 minutes
Avg HR 149
Peak HR - 171
2 min recovery after HR 40 beat drop
32 min total

Sunday, June 14, 2015

Training...

Prep - foam roller, experimental work
24 kg Get-up x 1+1 x 5
various styles of GU
20 kg Snatch
20 left>20 right>20 left>20 right>10+10 - in under 5 min
max HR - 173, avg HR 151
32 kg Strength Aerobics x 15 min
(clean+MP+FS x R+L)
max HR - 169, avg. HR - 145

Friday, June 12, 2015

Long week of work at FMS...

Drove down to VA on Sunday and back on Thursday morning- just love long drives and the impact it can have me - not so much... but pretty good.

Back in the saddle training today:
Prep - Foam roller, GFM and a little extra stretching
24 kg Goblet Squat x 5
24 kg Windmill x 5+5
24 kg Halo x 3+3 (3 halos each direction)

24 kg modified strength aerobics with Indian Clubs as active recovery between sets
Clean+Military Press+Front Squat+Snatch + 10 swings x right and left with a ladder up of reps:
x 1 of everything + 10 swings
x 2 of everything + 10 swings
x 3 of everything + 10 swings
x 4 of everything + 10 swings
x 5 of everything + 10 swings

Took about 25 min approximately

Friday, June 05, 2015

Jerks and Swings...

Today - 6/5/2015

Prep - foam roller and GFM

24 kg Get-up x 1+1 x 2

Alternating sets of
Double 24 kg Jerks x 10
One arm Swing 32 kg x 5+5
x 20 sets total (10 of each)

Took 40 minutes
Peak HR 161
Avg. HR 135
Two minute recovery 30+ beat drop in HR

There is a video of a recent GS athlete's performance of 101 Double 32 kg Jerks in 5 minutes - my sets of 10 with double 24s have a LONG way to go....

Couple of funny things from the interwebs:
Article out that recommended Swings over snatches because snatches bruise forearms - if KB snatches bruise your forearms you have a technique issue - period.

Tagged in a post that I don't know how to respond to.... we shall see....

Wednesday, June 03, 2015



Training...

Also I have three spots available for my on-line training program - email or click the link on the right for details.

6-2-2015
Prep - foam roller and GFM
24 kg Get-up x 1+1 x 3
Alternating sets of:
Double 32 kg Clean (x1) + Jerk (x2) + FS (x1)
20 kg Snatch x 10+10
X 20 sets total (10 each)

Total time: 42 minutes
Peak HR: 163
Avg. HR 138
During the alternating sets the avg hr was closer to 142
Waited for a 20+ drop in HR between sets

Today
Jogging x 22 minutes
Peak HR 170
Avg. HR 145

Had to drop my car off for some work so I got the idea that jogging home would be great...
It was and wasn't ;-)

Monday, June 01, 2015

History and training

Yesterdays training 5-31

Prep - foam roller and GFM

32 kg Get-up x 1+1 x 3
about 3 min
this took my HR up to about 149 
rest 2 min
24 kg Strength Aerobics x 18 min
Clean + Press + FS + 5 snatches > repeat on Left
rest till 20+ drop in HR
Completed 10 sets
Peak HR 166
Average HR 143

History:
Links to check out

Health By Exercise by G. Taylor - 1880
https://archive.org/details/healthbyexercise00tayl

British Manly Exercises - Walker - 1834
https://books.google.com/books?id=0DsFAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA294&dq=Walker%27s+book+of+manly+exercises&hl=en&sa=X&ei=m0JsVb20BYH-gwT0vIGgDQ&ved=0CCsQ6AEwAg#v=onepage&q=Walker's%20book%20of%20manly%20exercises&f=false

Natural Method by Hebert
http://www.amazon.com/The-Natural-Method-translated-Practical-ebook/dp/B00OSMWRAC/ref=redir_mobile_desktop?ie=UTF8&fp=1&noEncodingTag=1&pc_redir=T1&redirectFromSS=1


Friday, May 29, 2015

Couple days of training... and a piece of research...

Ok - research first:
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26013150/

Looking forward to digging into this one.  A nice look at multiple factors it seems.

Training

5/27
Prep - foam roll and GFM
24 kg Get-up x 1+1 x 2
32 kg Strength Aerobics x 20 min

Total time 31 minutes (foam roll thru the end)
Peak HR 171
Average HR during strength aerobics 142

5/29
Prep - foam roll and GFM
32 kg Get-up x 1+1 x 3

Alternating sets of
Double 24 kg Jerk x 6
20 kg Snatch 10+10
x 20 sets

Rest between sets
Jerk set > rest 1:30 > Snatch set > rest 1:15 >etc...
looking for 20-30 beat HR drop between sets

total time 46 min
5 min Get-ups
39 min Jerks and Snatches
2 min cool down
Max HR 166
Average HR 142

Tuesday, May 26, 2015

Go Outside...

Had the chance to take a break from a big yard project and get some training in outside yesterday

Prep - GFM based work
24 kg Windmill x 5+5

Double 24 kg LCC&J x 5 x 10 sets

24 kg Alternating snatch x 10 x 5 sets

Indian Clubs as Active recovery between sets of jerks

Alternating snatches are interesting - an alternating swing where you switch hands on the way up for a snatch.
Took a few reps to find the rhythm
Neat move

Thursday, May 21, 2015

Changes and changes...

As you can tell from the absence it has been a very busy time and I have made a pretty significant change in my work life to better my personal life.

I have left the Duquesne Club Health and Fitness Center where I was a full time employee from Oct. 2013 until May 15, 2015.  Between my work for FMS, StrongFirst and on-line clients the full time position at the DC was simply too much.  Missing too much time with my family and not allowing me to focus on my other three jobs.
Freeing up time for my family and myself will be the benefit!

With some time freed up I have been back on to some regular training

5/16
Prep - little foam roll and movement prep
24 kg Get-up x 1+1 x 3
24 kg Strength Aerobics x 16 min
Stationary Bike x 25 min

Average HR for KB work 136
Average HR for Bike 135-140

5/18
Prep - little foam roll and movement prep
24 kg Get-up x 1+1 x 3
24 kg Strength Aerobics x 16 min
1 min rest (30+ drop in HR)
24 kg 1 arm swing x 20 sec with 40 sec off x 10
Bike 10 min

Today - 5/21
Prep - little foam roll and movement prep
32 kg Get-up x 2+2 x 2 sets
Double 24 kg Long Cycle Clean and Jerk x 5 x 10 sets
LCCJ took about 30 sec rested 1:30
Double 24 kg FS x 5 x 5 sets
rested about a 1 or more between sets

I am using a WAHOO fitness HR monitor that links to my iPhone via Bluetooth.
Interesting to watch recovery and HR peaks etc...
Today's workout was a nice collection of peaks and recoveries.
Peak of 162
average 137
Could see the accumulating fatigue yet 20-30 beat drops between sets
controlling breathing during recovery is key

Wednesday, February 11, 2015

16 hours of driving in two days does NOT do a body good...

On Feb. 4 I hit a good training day
Indoor Cycling Class x 1 hour
Treadmill x 20 min (1 min walk + 4 min run x 4)

Some days its just great to train for a while.

Today
Prep - foam roller, Ground Force Method
24 kg Get-up plus x 1+1

Strength aerobics session
11 min - 24 kg alternating sets of Clean + Press + Squat + Snatch Right and Left with 24 kg Bottom up sets of Clean + Press + Squat + Snatch Right and Left
10 min of 32 kg sets of Clean + Press + Squat Right and Left

Last Friday the 6th I drove 8 hours to work with Gray Cook on new Level 2 information and turned around and drove the 8 hours back the next day - This does NOT do a body good.
Took a couple of days of Foam roller and stretching to get unwound.

Sunday, February 01, 2015

More pressing... and a new Position

Prep - foam roller and Ground Force Method

24 kg Get-up + x 1+1

32 kg MP ladders
2+2 > 2+2 > 3+3 x 6 ladders


Double 32 kg Renegade Row x 10 x 5 sets (between ladders)

32 kg One arm swing x 5+5 x 8 sets in 5 minutes

Stretch

I have been promoted to Chief SFG Instructor and will be working with Strong First on advancing the curriculum and standards for the SFG.

Very excited to begin this now role.

Friday, January 30, 2015

Keeping it Simple

A busy couple of days with no training but got one in today

Prep - Foam roller and Ground Force Method

Strength Aerobics session
24 kg x 21 minutes
Clean + press + squat + snatch x right and left

For the first half of the training I alternated in sets of the same exercises but Bottoms Up with both hands - great way to increase the "strength" work without going heavier etc....

Tuesday, January 27, 2015

Quick training yesterday...

prep - Foam roller, Ground Force Method

24 kg Get-up x 1+1 x 5

Treadmill
1 min walk + 4 min run (7.0 speed) x 3
2 min cool down walk

More on the Foam roller -
I had a couple of other questions from the foam roller forum post.
If not SMR then what the other benefits
What do you do when you find a tender spot?
If a desk jockey then is there anything additional to do etc...

other benefits -
it is a highly proprioceptive (lots of information to the brain),
it is “self massage” – so good for tissue quality etc…,
tender spots (this ties in with tissue quality) – these “hot spots” may be restrictions influencing movement etc…
When you find a tender spot – 10 or so 1″ rolls over the area or 10-15 seconds of staying on the spot
you don’t have to “get rid of” the tender spot but you may want to revisit the spot after the rest of your rolling to see what has changed
As a desk jockey you may be spending 5-10 minutes on the roller – so just a bit more time and attention to the hot spots before your movement prep

Sunday, January 25, 2015

Sunday training and...


Foam rolling post from my Applied Strength, LLC facebook page:
I'll try to keep this brief and on point...

Foam rolling is a valuable tool
it is not "self myofascial release" but it is highly proprioceptive
(See Myers etc...)
it is not a great "trigger point" tool - it is too "blunt" of a tool but it will find tender spots and areas that need attention (talk to any myofascial therapist or clinician that treats trigger points)
it is not a "pain tolerance" experiment - if you push hard enough or use cement rolls everything will hurt and that is not the point and could be counterproductive - control your pressure so only the tender spots show up.

Foam rolling for me is a 3-5 min opportunity to "check in" with my body - see if there are any tender spots and move along to the rest of my movement prep
So do I use it almost every time I train - yes but 97.5% of the time it is a 3 min or under check in not a "self treatment"

Initially foam rolling will/can be intense on certain areas but this should decrease and go away so that the foam roller becomes a "check in" - as one of my clients told me the other day "hey that foam roller feels great now...."

A well structured training program should improve movement and have you feeling great - not beat up and sore and full of tender spots all the time. IF this is the case then you may want to re-evaluate your program IMO
You also have to factor in your lifestyle here. If you are a "desk jockey" or computer based worker you may have to overcome 8-10 hours of static sitting etc... in order to be ready to train and a foam roller may be more a part of your routine.

Foam rollers and other soft tissue tools can be an integral part of your routine and can be very effective. This is all individual based - some will need more (due to previous injury, peaking for a competition goal, etc.....) and some will need very little. Adjust to your needs but keep it in it's place as a "check in" and part of your movement prep etc....

Training:
Prep - foam roller and Ground Force Method
24 kg Get-up x 1+1 (arm bar + crooked arm bar + bridge at elbow and hand)

Double 32 kg Front squat x 5
superset with
Double 32 kg SLDL x 3+3
x 5 supersets

24 kg Snatch x 5+5 x 6 sets in 5 min

Bike for a few minutes to just flush the legs a bit

Saturday, January 24, 2015

Continuing the training...


Wednesday was another Indoor Cycling class for an hour - fun stuff.

Today

prep - foam roller and Ground Force Movement

24 kg Get-up x 1+1 (plus armbar, crooked arm bar, bridge at elbow and hand)
32 kg Get-up x 1+1

32 kg MP Ladders
1+1 > 2+2 > 3+3 x 6 ladders
in between ladders
2/24 kg Renegade Row x 10 x 6 sets

32 kg one arm swings x 5+5 x 6 sets
in just under 5 min

Bike - 20 min (132-136 heart rate) nice and easy



Tuesday, January 20, 2015

Couple of recent training days...


I was at the FMS speaker school in Chatham VA weekend before last and what an experience!
Over the years I've taught many workshops (150+) but have very rarely or ever been critiqued or taught "how" to present.
Getting a pair of Critical eyes on you to let you know what you are doing well and what you need to improve upon and what you need to STOP doing is essential and Greg Rose does a great job of this.

Upon returning from the speaker school I wanted to get a workout in...
So:
Prep - Foam roller and Ground Force Method
24 kg Get-up x 1+1 + 20 alternating swings
32 kg Get-up x 1+1 + 20 alternating swings
36 kg Get-up x 1+1 + 20 alternating swings

32 kg Strength aerobics x 11 minutes
clean + press + squat + snatch x right arm and then left arm

Now what I had imagined my workout being going into the session was bit more "grand" but my body said No.  And I listened.

Monday (yesterday)
I hit a One hour Indoor Cycling class.
Lots of fun and a challenging workout.

Today
Prep - Foam roller and Ground Force Method
Treadmill x 22 min
4 x (1 min walk + 4 min run at various speeds)
+ 2 min cool down walk

superset of:
36 kg MP x 2+2
24 kg Chins x 3
x 3 supersets


Lots of work and opportunities swirling around - gotta get my head on right and determine my path

Friday, January 09, 2015

Quick training today


Prep - foam roller and Ground Force Method work

Treadmill - x 18 min
1 min walk + 4 min jog/run x 3
3 min walk cool down

36 kg MP x 2+2 x 3 sets
24 kg Chins x 3 x 3 sets

Just enough


Thursday, January 08, 2015

So this is just silly...

It's been since August since I posted last?

Well - here we go in 2015...

Getting familiar with "cardio" again and other training

I am getting "up to speed" as it were with indoor cycling so i can sub classes when needed at the club where I work.  And this has afforded me the opportunity to get back into doing the dreaded
CARDIO.....

Funny thing is I really like "it".  Cycling and jogging a bit (as my joints adapt) is feeling great.
The indoor cycling training is through Cyclingfusion.com and their Heart Zone Training.
This has really good information and has filled in some blanks between conversations with Pavel and reading The Cardio Code by Kenneth Jay.

I have also been hitting the Strength Aerobics type of work with the KBs.
http://www.strongfirst.com/strength-aerobics/

for example - Yesterday
1-7-2015

prep - Foam roller, Ground Force Method work

24 kg Get-up x 1+1 plus 20 alternating swings
28 kg Get-up x 1+1 plus 20 alternating swings
32 kg Get-up x 1+1 plus 20 alternating swings
36 kg Get-up x 1+1 plus 20 alternating swings
brief rest
Strength Aerobics with 32 kg Kb
32 kg Clean + Press + FS + Snatch x right then left x 16 min
rest as needed

Great training session

I am posting research and other information on my Applied Strength, LLC page on FaceBook so please head on over there and LIKE the page to keep up on what is going on...
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So I will be updating this page with Training posts and other information but using the Facebook page for getting research etc.... out there.

Thanks for checking in...

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Personal Trainer and Strength Enthusiast Email: appliedstrength@gmail.com

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